EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING TheScore brings you a quick does of your sporting fix, to enjoy with that warming first coffee of the day.
1. #CHAMPIONS LEAGUE The final we didn’t expect to happen will take place in Munich on May 19.
Bayern last night earned the right to home advantage in the final against Chelsea by advancing past Real Madrid on penalties – typical Germans.
Madrid mirrored the score of the first leg and the game finished 2-1 after extra time. No less than Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo missed early spot-kicks for Los Blancos.
Here’s how all the action unfolded.
2. #PUNCHESTOWN PUDDLES Day two of the festival was curtailed due to some truly rotten weather conditions (pictured). The two big races, the totesport.com Gold Cup and teh Guinness Handicap Chase, have been postponed until Saturday.
Today’s racing will also go ahead with a reduced card due to start at 4.50.
3. #EUROPA LEAGUE After two disappointments from Spain’s old firm in the Champions League, the rest of La Liga is still looking strong in Europe’s second tier.
The prospect of an all Spanish final is still a possibility. Sporting Lisbon are the only thing that stands in the may of that occurring, they take a 2-1 lead to Bilbao where they face Marcelo Bielsa’s exciting Basque side.
The other semi guarantees a Spanish finalist, Valencia will look to overturn a 4-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid when they walk out at the Mestalla tonight.
4. #HONEY MONSTER Richard Dunne was in town yesterday and, after showing a nasty looking scar on his collarbone, he revealed he will resume full contact training with Aston Villa tomorrow and will certainly be fit for Euro 2012. So we still have a chance.
5. #WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? The crowd at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre have vented anger at Mark Williams after the Welsh former World Champion labelled the venue a “shithole” on Twitter last week.
Williams was facing Liu Chuang and silenced the crowd by taking a 6-3 lead at the end of the session. The winner will face Ronnie O’Sullivan in round two. Here’s a wrap of the rest of the day’s action.
6. #INTENSE Ulster captain, Johann Muller, has said he has never seen training sessions to rival his teammates efforts this week.
“This squad and these players cannot wait for Saturday afternoon. It’s the biggest game for 13 years for this club and probably the biggest game that a lot of these games have ever played in.”
More on that story coming right up.
